Man Arrested for Break-in at UC Berkeley Sorority
A 45-year-old man from the Bay Area, who has a lengthy criminal record, was arrested following a break-in at a sorority house at the University of California, Berkeley. Authorities reported that during the incident, he not only stole food and personal belongings, but also intruded on the privacy of residents by showering alongside one of them.
This incident has left many shocked. Berkeley Police Officer Byron White remarked, “It’s obviously shocking and horrifying. Just the thought of someone invading your personal space like that can really shake your sense of safety.”
The suspect, Courtney Emile Alford, was apprehended on November 5, four days after the break-in at a sorority on Walling Street. A resident had woken up around 6 a.m. on November 1 to discover an unfamiliar man in her room, prompting her to flee. Multiple residents later confirmed they had seen the same person in their sorority around 3 a.m.
Detectives were able to piece together Alford’s movements from security footage, which showed him entering and leaving the building multiple times, even changing clothes. Officer White pointed out that the security at the sorority might have been compromised due to the Halloween festivities, a busy night for the campus Greek life.
Throughout the investigation, authorities revealed that items stolen included food and underwear from the residents’ rooms. Alford was reportedly observed in shared bathrooms watching the women shower.
Using surveillance videos and advanced license plate recognition technology, detectives identified Alford as the suspect. Following their findings, officers secured an arrest warrant on November 4 and took him into custody the next day without any incidents.
Upon searching Alford’s home in Dublin, police found parts of an assault rifle, a high-capacity magazine, and over 900 rounds of ammunition.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged Alford with numerous offenses including theft, voyeurism, invasion of privacy, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, among other charges. He is set to be arraigned in March 2024 for a separate charge involving lewd conduct with a child under 14, to which he has pleaded not guilty, as per court documents.
Alford, familiar to local law enforcement, is being held at the Santa Rita Jail with a bail set at $275,000. UC Berkeley confirmed the break-in occurred at an off-campus sorority and mentioned the ongoing investigation by the Berkeley Police Department. They are also providing necessary support to affected students.
